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| HH-60 Jayhawk (Coast Guard) |
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Length: 17 3/4"
Wingspan: 5 3/8"
Scale: 1/44
Includes desk stand.
The Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk is a twin-engine medium-range search and rescue (SAR) helicopter. It is based on the HH-60H Rescue Hawk,[1] which is a special variant of the US Navy's SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. Besides SAR, the HH-60 is used for drug interdiction, cargo lift, and special operations. It was developed for the United States Coast Guard to replace the aging Sikorsky Aircraft HH-3F Pelican in 1986.
The HH-60J Jayhawk development began in 1986 based on the HH-60H Rescue Hawk airframe. The Jayhawks were delivered to the US Coast Guard in the early 1990s. The HH-60J has a radar for search/weather that gives its nose a distinctive look. A forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor turret can be mounted below its nose. It can carry three 120 US gal (454 L) fuel tanks with two on the port side rack and one on the starboard side rack. The starboard also carries a rescue hoist with a 600 lbf (2.67 kN) capability mounted above the door.[2] The hoist has 200 ft (61.0 m) of cable.
The Jayhawk has a 6,460 lb (2,930 kg) fuel capacity allows it to operate for 6.5 hours within a 300 nmi (556 km) radius.[3] The helicopter is not able to perform water landings as was its amphibious HH-3F Pelican predecessor.
A total of 42 Jayhawks were built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation with 35 in operation and another 7 in storage or support roles.
The HH-60Js began an upgrade program to convert them to medium range responder helicopters in January 2007, and will be redesignated as MH-60T. The program, called the Deepwater Program, will provide a glass cockpit and other upgrades. The MH-60T is modified with an airborne use of force package, including weapons for firing warning and disabling shots, and armor to protect the aircrew from small arms fire. Three Jayhawks have been upgraded to MH-60Ts as of June 2009.
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